Staining your floor adds color to your floor and will add additional time to your project, generally one day. There are extra steps associated with staining and we prefer to let the stain flash overnight before coating.
Matching an existing stain color is virtually impossible, however a close match is achievable. The reason for this is that stain and finish fade over time, clarity changes, and there are many different manufacturers on the market.
All wood does not stain the same. For example, if you have pine baseboards with a nutmeg stain and you request for us to use the nutmeg stain on your oak floors, keep in mind the stain will look completely different on the oak.
We are able to mix a custom stain to achieve your desired color. Our crew will sand a section of your floor and give you samples of colors that you are interested in and you can see how they will look on your floor.
Stain color must be selected first thing in the morning before the sanding starts. We will ask for a signature on our journeyman’s job report, acknowledging that you approve of the stain color.
Sanding and Finishing
Brother’s Flooring does not move furniture, appliances, toilets, and/or sinks. Please remove all furniture and appliances before we arrive.
There will be noise, vibration, light dust, and some vapors during the sanding and finishing process.
Although we have dust-containment equipment, you will need to do light dusting after the completion of the job. The Bona Atomic system is 97% dust-free sanding, however there will be dust created when tearing out original flooring, cutting in flush mount vents, prepping stairs, prepping lace in to existing floors and from the vibration of our sanders knocking loose existing dust on the walls and ceilings.
Brother’s Flooring does not hang plastic.
Brother’s flooring uses Pallman water-based finish, one sealer coat and two top coats. Each coat has a 3–4-hour dry time and very low odor (250 voc). It remains clear throughout its life because it contains a UV blocker and is the hardest finish on the market.
The finish is 75% cured after 24 hours, and 5% per day thereafter. 3 to 4 hours after the final coat, the floor will be suitable for light foot traffic with socks only. You may put furniture back after 24 hours with the understanding that the floor is susceptible to scuffing and marring. Never slide furniture or appliances across a hardwood floor.
Do not apply tape to the floor within 45 days of completion as this will peel off the finish. After the 45 days, never leave tape adhered to the finish for more than 11 hours.
Rugs and mats may be put back on the floor when fully cured (about 7 days). Rubber backed rugs will have a chemical reaction with the finish on the floor and cause the floor underneath to turn yellow.
Stairs
Stair preparation is quite dusty as most stairs are made of particle board. We will vacuum the dust as soon as the stair prep is finished.
We will not make stairs out of strip flooring. We only use solid stair treads, ¾” risers, and/or a ¼”Veneer riser where applicable. Solid treads are slightly more expensive but ensure the longevity and beauty of your staircase.
Brother’s Flooring doesn’t skirt stair stringers as they are too easily damaged in daily use. We recommend the homeowner repaint or stain the stair stringers or hire a professional painter. We will fill any holes or scrapes caused by the installation process.
New wood stairs are very beautiful and don’t wear out like carpeted stairs. We would recommend all customers to consider that the wood surface will be much smoother and slicker than carpeted stairs and therefore decide whether they are appropriate for your home if you have young children, people with walking concerns, and /or older pets in the home. We care about your safety and want you to be well informed.
Vents
We offer hardwood flush mount vents and cold air returns as an upgrade for your project. We stock flush mount vents, so they are readily available in standard sizes. The cold air returns are special order with a timeline of 4-6 weeks to make them. Please keep this in mind when scheduling your job.
Flush mount vents are very durable and attractive, and they are removable. All vents will be numbered for easy removal and installation for the homeowner. Our crews will show you how they are numbered and how to fit them into the frames.
Installation Of New Wood
Brother’s Flooring does not move furniture, appliances, toilets, and/or sinks. Please remove all furniture and appliances before we arrive.
Please remove all wall hangings and clear all countertops in the work area and basement below. At the end of the job, we will vacuum the windowsills and countertops in the immediate work area.
We will deliver hardwood to your home, and it must acclimate for a minimum of 5-10 days prior to installation. (Not acclimated in basement or garage)
The temperature and humidity in your home should be at normal living conditions (65-85 degrees and 30-50% relative humidity) for the wood to acclimate properly.
If the basement is not finished, it is normal to see wood chips on the ground as a result of the staples penetrating the subfloor.
Light bulbs in the basement have a tendency to burn out due to the banging of boards together during the installation process.
